VERONA ISLAND – One lane of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge was closed for much of the day Wednesday while crews removed snowbanks left over from last week’s storm.

The snow removal was needed so that crews from the Maine Department of Transportation could begin work today installing reflectors on some of the lights along the bridge railing.

The department has been experimenting with different light configurations in an effort to provide adequate lighting on the bridge deck.

The lane was closed to traffic for most of the day, forcing alternating traffic, according to Carol Morris, a DOT spokesperson for the bridge project. Morris said the DOT crews were using snow removal equipment that required that the lane be closed.

“This is not something that will have to be done every time it snows,” she said.

The department has received positive comments about the shields that crews added last week to the sets of lights installed on the Verona Island end of the bridge. The shields were one of several experiments with the lights to ease motorist concerns.

Drivers had complained that the bridge was too dark, and, after the bridge was partially lighted with the planned necklace lighting, they complained of glare from the lights.

The necklace lighting was designed as decorative lighting, but is being adapted to provide illumination to the road as well.

Since then, the department has been trying different placement and adjustments to the lights.

It was important to get the snow cleared away from the railing and to clean the lights on the bridge so that the reflectors will adhere to the light fixtures, Morris said.

The DOT expects to experiment with the lights for several more weeks in an effort to find the right solution.